Air conditioner



June 6, 1967 c. F. GRASER 3,323,319

AIR CONDITIONER Filed Feb. 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l 24 65 26 SW/rC/MEI/M52 26 J 54 3 w 3 INVENTOR Clarence F Groser June 6, 1967 c. F. GRASER3,323,319 I AIR CONDITIONER Filed. Feb. 8, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

FIG. 5.

United States Patent 3,323,319 AIR CONDITIONER Clarence F. Graser,Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 8, 1966, Ser.No. 525,910 9 Claims. (Cl. 62-262) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Frontassembly structure in which an upper panel for covering and alternatelyuncovering the outlet may be slid up or down in accordance withpositioning of a lower panel located in front of the inlet and pivotedalong its top portion, the lowered position of the upper panel holdingthe lower panel in a forwardly pivoted position to permit the entranceof room air into the inlet, and the upper position of the upper panelpermitting the lower panel to pivot rearwardly to a closed position overthe inlet.

This invention relates generally to room air conditioners, andparticularly to a front assembly therefor.

An object of the invention is the provision of a panel front arrangementadapted to provide a pleasing appearance, and which satisfactorily meetsthe operational requirements such as providing proper air flow patterns,permitting access for control and maintenance operations, and

being relatively simply manipulated between closed and open positions bythe user.

The arrangement according to the invention, as embodied in an assemblyfor use with the room air conditioner having an upper conditioned airoutlet, and a lower room air inlet on the front face of the airconditioner, generally comprises: an upper panel mounted for verticallysliding movement from an upper position generally blocking theconditioned air outlet, to a lower position generally exposing theoutlet; and a lower panel pivotally mounted along its top edge forswinging movement forwardly from a closed position to an open positionadapted to admit room air to the room air inlet. The top panel slidesdownwardly behind the upper portion of the lower panel, and cam meansengaged by the upper panel in its lower position maintains the lowerpanel in its forwardlypivoted open position. Additionally, the cam meansare arranged so that when the upper panel is raised to a closed positionand the lower panel is closed, the cam means supports the upper panel inits closed position. i

An explanation of the invention, as embodied in an arrangement currentlypreferred, and which includes numerous details contributed to in asubstantial degree by another, will process in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the face of the room air conditionerprovided with a panel arrangement according to the invention, and inwhich the panels are in closed positions;

FIG. 2 is an isometric View similar to FIG. 1 but showing the panels intheir normal operating positions;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but showing thelower panel in a raised position to yield access to the control meansand filter;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to one taken along thelines IVIV of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the front assembly and including apartly schematic representation of certain elements in broken lines;

FIG. 6 is a partly broken elevational View of one end of the upperpanel;

3,323,319 Patented June 6, 1967 ice FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional viewof the upper portion of the lower panel;

FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view of an alternative arrangementembodying the invention;

FIG. 9 is a partly schematic, vertical sectional view of the alternativearrangement with the panels in a closed position;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the alternative arrangement withthe panels in an open, normally operative position; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the alternative arrangement withthe lower panel swung upwardly to yield access to the lower portion ofthe face of the air conditioner.

The room face of the air conditioner is shown in FIGS. 1-3 with thepanel arrangement in FIG. 1 being in a closed (i.e., inoperative)position, in FIG. 2 in an open (normally operative) position, and inFIG. 3 with the panels in an open, operative position but with the lowerpanel raised to give access to parts therebehind.

The air conditioner casing 10 has the conventional, generallyrectangular box-shape and has a room face which receives a rectangularframe 12 which supports the front panel arrangement. The top panel 14and the bot tom panel 16 are connected at their side edges to the sidemembers 18 and 20 of the frame 12 in a manner which will be described indetail hereinafter.

The components inside the air conditioner casing 10 are generallyconventional and include a conventional refrigeration system and airmoving means (neither of which are shown). The air flow pattern is intothe room air inlet 22 in the lower portion of the casing front face,through the internal conditioning elements, and out of the conditionedair outlet 24 (when open) extending horizontally across the upperportion of the front face of the casing.

An adjustable grill assembly 26 is mounted in the conditioned air outletin the space immediately behind the panel 14 and is fully visible inFIGS. 2 and 3. An air filter 28 is disposed against the air enteringface of an evaporator (not shown) and is partially visible in FIGS. 2and 3. Control knob-s 30 are mounted on a stationary panel 32 at theleft side of the evaporator and air filter 28 as shown in FIG. 3. Accessto the control knobs, and air filter for maintenance, is gained bypivoting the lower panel 16 upwardly as shown in FIG. 3.

. 34 is rotatably secured against the rear face of the top panel 14adjacent each end thereof, Two cables 36 are arranged with theiropposite ends secured to opposite ones of the side members 18 and 20 ofthe frame 12, and extend in taut condition around wheels 34 atdiagonally opposite positions at the opposite ends of the panel 14.

The wheels are generally enclosed in a chamber formed between the rearface of the panel 14, and a wheel cover 38 (FIG. 4 and 6) secured to therear face of the panel 14. A cover 40 for the flight of the cablesbetween the wheels at opposite ends of the panel 14 is also provided onthe rear face of the panel. To stablize the panel 14- in its variouspositions, a guide member 42, which includes a vertical, inwardly-opentrack 44 for the vertical run of the cables 36, is provided and securedagainst the inner faces of the respectively opposite side members 18 and20of the frame 12.

The preferred means for limiting movement of the upper panel 14 in adownward direction is shown 'in FIG. 4. The upper panel 14 is providedwith a rearwardlyprojecting horizontal flange 46. When the upper panelis 3 dropped, the flange engages a forwardly-projecting horizontalflange 48 on the front face of mullion 50. The mullion extendshorizontally between the opposite side members 18 and 20 of the frame 12and is the general divider at the front between the air inlet 22 andoutlet 24.

The lower panel 16 is hinged along its upper edge for forwardly swingingmovement to the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Referring again toFIGS. 4-7, the top edge of the lower panel is formed to receive aplastic snap-on rail 52 which. captures an outwardly-projecting hingepin 54 at each end of the panel. These pins project at' opposite ends ofthe panel into bearing apertures provided in the respectively oppositeside members 18 and 20 of the frame 12.

The rails 52 also secure a pair of leaf springs against the rear face ofthe panel 16. The springs are shaped in longitudinal section as bestshown in FIGS. 4 and 7. Each leaf spring 56 includes an upper endcaptured by the rail 52, a rearwardly-projecting shoulder 58, and acurved portion 60 terminating in a free end. The purpose of the shoulder58 is to provide support for the upper panel 14 when the lower panel 16is in its closed position. To this end, the lower edge of the upperpanel 14 is provided with a downwardly and forwardly inclined tab 62aligned in a vertical direction with each spring 56. The tab 62, asshown in FIG. 4, rests upon shoulder 58 when the panel 14 is in itsclosed position. When the lower panel 16 is pulled forwardly at itsbottom edge, the spring 56 is also :pivoted so that the tab slips oil?the spring shoulder and the upper panel 14 may descend upon its cablesuspension to the lower position at which the flange 46 engages. thestop 48. With the panel 14 in its lowered position the tab 62 engagesthe arcuate portion 60 of the spring when the lower panel 16 is releasedfrom the grasp of the user. The engagement of the tab against the springholds the lower panel in its angularly-displaced, open position as shownin FIG. 2, for normal operation. An electrical interlock switch 63responsive to the position of the upper panel for controllingenergization of the air conditioner, and preventing energization whenthe upper :panel is not fully seated in its lowered position, may alsobe provided in connection with the stop means 48 by locating the switchactuating member 65 in a position projecting above the stop means.

When it is desired to place the front panels of the air conditioner in aclosed position, the upper panel 14 is grasped by the user and elevatedupon its cable suspension system to its uppermost position. This permitsthe lower panel 16 to pivot rearwardly to its closed position shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, and places the spring shoulder 58 below the tab 62 tohold up the upper panel 14.

Magnetic means may conveniently be used to insure that the lower panel16 is held in the plane of the frame -12 in the closed position of thepanels. To this end the rear face of the panel 16 is provided with asteel plate 64 secured thereto and a permanent magnet 66 (FIGS. 3 and 4is carried on the stationary panel 32 at the side of the room air inletin a position to register with the steel plate when the panel 16 isclosed. This pulls and holds the lower panel tightly closed.

The use of the springs 56 as a part of the cam means is presentlypreferred because of their yieldable nature. Thus, when the panels arein an open position, the springs can yield if the panel 16 isinadvertently or purposely forced backwardly toward the face of the airconditioner, and no damage to the suspension system of the panelsoccurs.

As noted before, numerous details of structure described in connectionwith the FIGS. 1-7 embodiments have been contributed by another, and arethe best mode now contemplated of carrying out the invention. However,it will be appreciated that the inventive concept is applicable tomodified forms of somewhat simpler character as shown in FIGS. 8-11, forexample.

The arrangement shown in-FIGS. 8-11 is similar in many respects to thearrangement shown in 1-7. The air conditioner includes the conventionalcasing 70, a front frame 72 having side members 74 and 76, an upperconditioned air outlet 78, a lower room air inlet 80, covered with asuitable filter 82, and control means 84 at the side of the room airinlet 80. The upper, vertically-slidable panel is designated 86 and thelower, hinged panel is designated 88.

The upper panel 86 is supported for its vertical sliding movement bymeans of outwardly-projecting tongues 98 at its ends. The tongues arereceived in the vertical slots 92 in each of the side pieces 74 and 76of the frame. The lower panel 88 is hingedly supported by means ofhorizontally projecting pins 94 at opposite ends of the panel top edge,the pins being received by the bearing holes 96 in the inner faces ofthe frame side members 74 and 76.

The cam means relating the positions of the upper and lower panels 86and 88 to each other is best shown in FIGS. 9-11. The cam means takesthe form of generally triangular flanges 98 projecting rearwardly fromthe end edges of the lower panel 88. The cam surface engaged by theupper panel 86 includes an upper shoulder 100 and V a sloped rear edge102. With the panels in a closed position as shown in FIG. 9, the bottomedge of the upper panel 86 rests upon the shoulder 100 and prevents theupper panel from sliding downwardly. When the panels are to be moved totheir open position as shown in FIG. 10, the lower panel is pulledforwardly at its bottom edge so that its upper panel 86 disenga-ges fromthe shoulder 100 and drops to its position as shown in FIG. 10. In thisposition, the rear edge 102 abuts the front face of the upper panel 86and maintains the lower panel 88 in its angularly displaced forwardposition. When it is desired to return the panels to a closed position,the upper panel 86 is grasped along its upper edge and pulled upwardlyto a position which permits the lower panel 88 to be returned to itsclosed position in which it lies generally in the plane of the frame.

The means for stopping the downward movement of the upper panel 86 maybe accomplished by the forwardly inclined top edge of the upper panel 86resting upon the upward edge of the lower panel 88, or may be accomplished by means of the tongue on the upper panel 86 engaging the bottomend of the slots 92. When access to the controls or to the air filter isdesired, the lower panel 88 may be swung upwardly toward a position asshown in FIG. 11, which gives access to those parts usually hiddenbehind the lower panel 88.

I claim as my invention:

1. A front assembly for a room air conditioner having a lower room airinlet and an upper conditioned air outlet defined on the room face ofsaid conditioner, comprising:

an upper front panel generally coextensive in area with said outlet;

means mounting said upper front panel for substantially vertical slidingmovement from an upper po-.

sitionv covering said outlet to a lower position exposing said outlet;

a lower front panel covering said inlet;

means mounting said lower panel for pivotal movement in a forwarddirection about its top portion; and

means for holding said lower panel in a first forwardly pivoted positionwhen said upper panel is in its said lower position.

2. A front assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

said holding-means includes cam means carried by said lower panel forengagement by said upper panel in its lower position to hold said lowerpanel in an angularly displaced forward position.

3. A front assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein:

said front assembly includes frame means having opposite, facing,vertically-disposed side members adapted to receive said panelstherebetween; and

said upper and lower panels are supported from said side members.

4. A front assembly according to claim 2 wherein:

said cam means includes shoulder means adapted to support said upperpanel in said upper closed position when said lower panel is in a closedposition.

5. A front assembly according to claim 2 including:

stop means adapted to be engaged by said upper panel in said lowerposition, said stop means being independent of said cam means.

6. A front assembly according to claim 2 wherein:

said cam means is releasably engaged by said upper panel to permitangular displacement of said lower panel to a second forwardly pivotalposition substantially beyond said first forwardly pivoted position.

7. A front assembly according to claim 2 wherein:

said cam means comprise cam edges projecting rear- 20 wardly from therear face of said lower panel and 6 being of incrementally greaterthickness from frontto-rear in a descending direction. 8. A frontassembly according to claim 3 wherein: said side members includevertical slot means therein;

and said upper panel includes tongue means at each end projecting intosaid slot means. 9. A front assembly according to claim 1 including:means responsive to movement of said upper panel to and away from saidlower position for controlling energization of said air conditioner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,737,781 3/1956 Gelfand 622672,858,678 11/1958 Rose 62-267 3,159,983 12/1964 Metcalfe 62262 3,274,9199/1966 Wegrnan 62262 WILLIAM J. WYE, Primary Examiner.

1. A FRONT ASSEMBLY FOR A ROOM AIR CONDITIONER HAVING A LOWER ROOM AIRINLET AND AN UPPER CONDITIONED AIR OUTLET DEFINED ON THE ROOM FACE OFSAID CONDITIONER, COMPRISING: AN UPPER FRONT PANEL GENERALLY COEXTENSIVEIN AREA WITH SAID OUTLET; MEANS MOUNTING SAID UPPER FRONT PANEL FORSUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SLIDING MOVEMENT FROM AN UPPER POSITION COVERINGSAID OUTLET TO A LOWER POSITION EXPOSING SAID OUTLET; A LOWER FRONTPANEL COVERING SAID INLET; MEANS MOUNTING SAID LOWER PANEL FOR PIVOTALMOVEMENT IN A FORWARD DIRECTION ABOUT ITS TOP PORTION; AND MEANS FORHOLDING SAID LOWER PANEL IN A FIRST FORWARDLY PIVOTED POSITION WHEN SAIDUPPER PANEL IS IN ITS SAID LOWER POSITION.